Surface drains



M. A. SISK SURFACE DRAINS Aug. 9, 1960 2 sheet's-sneet 1 Filed Feb. 20, 1956 M. A. SlSK SURFACE DRAINS Aug. 9, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 20, 1956 INVENTOR. Mart/'n A. 526k Ma/MMM Patented ug. 9, 1960 Y ,l SURFACE. DRAM A'. sisk, 1010v House Bldg., -riusburgh z2, Pa.; `Lulu E; Sisk executrix ofk said Martin A. Sisk, de- `ceasedVv Y.. d

lFiled Feb. zo, 1956, ser. No. 566,698

' 's claims,V (01410-1166) My-invention relates to surface drains, access boxes or the like, for use in the floors of shower batlrenclosures, roadways, decks of ships, floors and roofs of buildings, and the like, to provide debris-excluding protection at the inlets of drain openings or'pipes. The structure `of the 'invention willr also find utility as a guard for pipes kand openings of any sortinwhich liquid is received, and in the'ope'ration of which it is desirable to exclude solids of a -si'ze that'might clog the opening, or the pipe leading therefrom.

In general, ran outlet or floor drain of the type in mind consists in ra cupshaped body Vthat is installed within or belowthe ooror other structure whose surface is to be drained, and the inlet of the body is covered by a removable top or grate.` 'Ihe upper face of the grate usually lies flush with the surface to be drained. The 'body of the forms a belled terminus at the end of a drain pipe laid beneathl or within the structure whose surface is to benennen, 'In the usual prior structures the gra-te consists in a perforatecover-of metal which rests ,at its periphery in a rabbeted seat formed in the rim of the body of the drain, 'and most of the water entering the 'drain does so through holes or openings'in the cover orsgrate located inwardly froml the rim ofthe drain body, with the result that the flowing water does not completely flush the inner surface of 'thesidewall ofthe drain-body.v Consequently, debris carried'by the waste rwater ltends to accumulate on such surface of thev drain body, especially just below the grate, and between 'the seartf in vthe drain body and the edge of the grate'.- 'The accumulated debris overa period of time decomposes, creating foul` odors and unsanitary conditions; vI n'order to cleanse such drains, it is necessary to remove the gnate and scrub or scrape away the accumulations-manifestly an unpleasant task. An important feature of this invention resides in the elimination of these pbjeotionable conditions in drains embodying the strucltural renements defined in the appended claims.

Mypresent invention comprises a renewable rim that is particularly though not exclusively adapted for use ina drain structure which has a peripheral slot whose outeredge is vertically aligned, or substantially so, with the' inner surfaceof the drain body. VThis slot is effective throughout 'the peripheryv of the drain body inlet, and the internal surfaces ofl the drain body extend from this slot downwardly to the drain outlet, or to the inlet of Athe drain pipe on which the drain body is mounted, affordig'a clear-unrestricted downsweep for the ow of the drainingwater. No objectionable ledges, channels, or crevices are present in the structure, on which or in which debris mayaccumulate.' d Y Y Thedrain body may beformed of two telescopically 4assembled bodyportions thatare relatively adjustable in vertical direction, Wherebythe el'feotiveheight of the body maybe varied as need be incertain installations. Prefer- ,ably'i.f'not' essentially, thetwo body portions are united iazthreaedfljot. ,WiiliV the elfes? that the .seid adjust:

,United States Pafenfof ment may be obtained by the relative rotation of the body portions.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a view in plan of a drain structure of the sort in which the invention may be embodied;

Fig. 2 is a view of the drain structure in vertical section, on the plane indicated at II-II in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is la fragmentary view, showing in vertical secbody will be seen to comprise two castings 3 and 4 united in a threaded engagement 5. The castings may be rough castings of a relatively inexpensive material such as iron. The upper body or collarportion 4 of the body is provided with aperipheral rim 6 that defines the inlet of the #drain body, across which a grate 7 is positioned, in this case with the to-p of ythe grate ush with the surface 8 of the iioor to be drained. Extending downwardly from the rim 6 the sidewall of the two-part drain body comprises a vertical succession of smooth annular surfaces e, f, g, h, i, and j, the latter surface (j) sloping downwardly and inwardly tov an openingin this case a threaded opening kwhich receives the terminal of the drain pipe (not shown), for conducting the drainage liquid to a sewer or other point of disposal. The threaded union 5 of the two parts of the Vdrain body permits the upper Ibody portion 4 to be vertically adjusted after the lower body portion 3 has been aliixed on the end of lthe drain pipe, whereby the top of the rim 6 may be made ilush with the surface 8 to be drained. v

While the inlet of the drain body is herein shown to be circular in plan, it will be understood that the form of such inlet may be square, octagonal, or of other contour. The internal side wall of the two-part drain body, extending downwardly from the rim 6 in a substantially continuous series of smooth surface areas (e to j) that fair withkone another, provides a downsweep that is unobstructed, having no recesses or ledges in which, or upon which, drainage water, or sediment, or debris may accumulate. internal surface of the drain body is a slot 9 formed between the grate body portion and the rim 6 of the drain body inlet. j Y The lower pontion of the drain body has a radially extending horizontal flange 10 upon which the usual subfloor membrane or flashing of lead or tar paper (not shown) is secured. This is a conventional detail of construction, and for present purposes it need only be remarked that any water seeping from the floor surface 8 downwardly between the drain body and the adjacent bodyrof the floor is caught on the membrane and drained through weep holes 11 into the drain body. n

The grate or perforate top 7 of the drain structure is in this case of general plate or disk-like form, comprising an annular portion whose outer periphery is indicated at 12. Within such annular portion spaced cross-bars or bearer-bars 13 form the open-work stnucture of the grate, through which drainage liquid may enter the drain body therebelow. A feature of my structure consists in the provision of a substantially continuous peripheral slot be- Y tween the perforate body of the grate `and the rim 6 of the drain body. In Figs. 1 and 2 such slot is indicated at 9, formed byand between the outer edge 12 of the body of the grateandthe inner edge 14 of the drain body Cooperating with this particular form of the l Y 3 Extending outwardly from the grate body is a plurality of relatively narrow radial lugs 15 that are widely spaced apart circumferentially of the grate, so that the slot 9, vas far `as ow of drainage liquid into .the drain is concerned, forms a substantially-continuous flushing opening which is peripherally 'coextensive with Vthe down- ,sweeping wall of the drain structure. The lugs 115 engage the side wall portion f of the upper drain body Yportion or collar 4,-which portion f forms an annular, downwardly sloped seat for the grate 7. A large part of any liquid to be drained from surface 8 is received by the slot 9, whence the liquid iiows straight `downwardly -upon and over the unrestricted internal surfaces of the drain body below, thereby flushing such surfaces with a downsweeping ow of liquid that keeps them clean. While the slot 9 is narrow enough to exclude from the ydrain solids 'of a size that might clog the drain pipe, the area-of said slot is so proportioned with respect to the aggregate area of the open-ings between the bars v13 that, as noted, a large part of the liquid draining into the structure enters by way of the slot, thus insuring the desired scavenging or scouring ow of liquid downward upon the unrestricted drain body side wall.

If it is desirable to Hush-out the drain pipe, and the trap associated therewith, with a bucket of Water or a hose, it is not necessary, as in the case of prior structures, to remove the grate, since an adequately rapid flow of water through the drain can be obtained to remove sediment from the drain pipe and trap, if -indeed sediment can collect when the drain of this invention is used. My drain structure serves substantially'thesame purpose as the more costly flushing rim drains that are provided with a hollow rim into which water is piped under pressure. Furthermore, the tapping of such ilushing water from city supply lines is undesirable because it necessitates cross connections with the city supply, with the danger of back syphonage and contamination of the city water.

Another point may be mentioned. Since the grate 7 is supported by lugs located outward from the grate rim 12, the tendency is negatived for the grate to tilt when pressure or load is applied to the rim of the grate. Indeed, the grate tends to seat tighter and to be more resistant to tilting when load is applied to its rim, located as it is within the limits of the points of support. v If desired, certain of the lugs 15 may be secured by means of screws 16 passed through the lugs into threaded engagement with bosses 17 integral with drain body portion 4.

'The outwardly extending radial lugs not only support the grate on the drain body, ybut space the grate and its rim from the wall of the drain body.

The particular form of the drain body may be varied in many ways, but the feature of my present invention is illustrated in Fig. 3 wherein the upper body portion 4a of the adjustable drain body is formed of a relatively inexpensive rough-huish material, such as cast iron, and has an integral peripheral edge or rim that is modified to receive a separately formed renewable iinish rim deviceof a relatively expensive high-finish material such as brass, bronze, chrome, etc., in the form shown at 18, the upper edge ofthe adjustable drain body portion 4a being chamfered or downwardly and inwardly inclined from a feather edge to form a seat 19, and being rabbetedY at 2) to engage the correspondingly shaped finish rim 18. vAt four points, more or less, in the circumferential extent of the rim i8, countersunk holes are provided for grate-securing screws 21, and at these points drilled and threaded lugs 22 are provided on the adjustable drain body to receive the screws. The grate 24 may be formed ofthe same relatively costly high-iinishmetal as therenewable rim 18, and the lugs 23 of the grate, otherwiseformed as theV lugs 15 of the grate 7 .of Figs. l and 2, are extended downward below the body proper of the grate to engage the seat 25 on the drain body. Such downward extension of the lugs 23 permits the grate body proper to be of less vertical depth and of lighter weight than would be the case if the grate were of the same `depth as the lugs.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modiiicaton, where the upper body or collar portion y4b of the drain body is formed of a rough-finish material, such-as cast iron, and is adapted to receive a renewable inish rim 26. The top or top surface of the drain body rim has atapered and featheredged seat 27, and the renewable yfinish rim is similarly tapered across its entire under surface, to engage snugly upon the tapered seat 27. The renewable 'rim 26 s a `separate or independently formed element, removably secured to the rim of the drain body bymeans of a suitable number of screws 28 that are received in drilled and threaded bosses 29 cast integrally with the drain body portion 4b. The grate 30l is essentially .the *grate 7 described, save Vthat grate -30 may be formed Vof thesame high nish metal as the rim 26. Thegrate-supporting lugs 31 are extended below the Ybody of the grate -to engage the relatively deep seat 32 without necessitating a heavy or thick grate structure. Bosses 33, cast Aintegrally with the drain body and fitted with .drilledand threaded brass bushings '314, receive grate-securing screws 35 that extend through lugs 31, it being noted `thatonly one of the lugs 31 appears in Fig. 4.

In the structure of Figs. 5 and 6 the drain body Yrnay be formed of the same material asthe-drain bodies already described, and the renewable finish vrimLportion-'48 comprises a separate or independently formed element seated at 48]; upon'the rim 42d of the drain body. Y renewable nish rim is provided with anannular .portion 48a that extends downwardly adjacent Vto the -innersurface of the drain body side wall, as shown in Fig. 6, with the inner side face or surface of portion .48u-.substantially aligned vertically with the internal side sur-face of the drain body immediately therebelow. It will fbe understood that in Figs. 5 and 6, as in the :casefofthe structures of Figs. 3 and 4, the outer vperipheral edge of the drain body rim or top edge and the -outer peripheral edge of the renewable'iinish rim comprise feathered edges that meet in a line or seam 48g lying substantially f in the plane of the surface to be drained. At its lower edge the rim portion 48a carries a plurality 0f horizontal lugs 48e that are widely spaced around the circumference of the drain, as will be understood upon referenceto Eig. 5. Two or more of the lugs 48C lare provided with screws 48d that are secured in threaded engagement with bosses 42s formed integrally with the drain body, whereby the renewable iinish lim is removably secured-to the drain body. The grate 46 of the modified structureofFigs. 5 and 6 is provided with cross bars 46c-,and radial flugs 46d that seat upon and cover the lugs 48e ofthe renewable rim 48, and the circumferential ilushingslotllof the drain is for-med by and between the inner edge-48f of the renewable rim and the outer -edge 46e o f the body of grate 46. A bolt I46his arranged-to Asecure the grate in seated position. In orderto facilitatethepositioning of the grate 46 with its lugs 46d in registry with the lugs 48e of the rim `48, the said rim 48 IS provided with one or more notches a, Fig. 5and ac qlresponding number of the lugs of the grate rare extended, -as-at 60C, to t such notches. Screws 448e engage -thejlugs 60C to lugs 48C. Eitherthe lim 48 or the grate.46,.or both the rim 4S and the grate 46, may be readily removed from the drain installation for renewal, reiinishing-or interchange with other rims or -grates, all..without .marring the adjacent surface of the floor in whichfth'edrain is installed. Y

As shown in Figs. .3, 4 and 6, the body of the integral rim is extended externally a substantial intervalvertically downward from the feather edge of the rimgrcf. 42d in Fig. 6, to provide-a -rim of substantial vertical 'thickness and to aord a permanent andrigidassembly AWith"tl1e oor structure, and to insure peripheral strength beneath the inclined seat for the renewable finish rim.

It maybe noted that separately formed renewable nish rims of the sort described herein, permit the use of various forms of grams, perforated or solid covers, or at and dome-shaped grates or covers. Also, the use of renewable iinish rims may in certain cases allow the permanent or periodic discard of grates, without danger of the drain body being damaged.

Various other modifications of the structure described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention deiined in the appended claims. In al1 of the renewable rims disclosed in this case, it will be perceived that the top edge of an inexpensive cast iron drain body is entirely covered by a highly finished rim of attractive appearance, and, as distinguished from all prior art of which I have knowledge, the tapered or beveled meeting surfaces of the top edge of the drain body and the outer edge of the renewable rim applied thereto terminate at their outer peripheries in feather edges precisely in a ne joint or seam that lies in the plane of the surface to be drained, whereby the rim may be removed, and replaced or renewed, without marring the tile or other nish of the surface of the floor in which the drain structure is installed. As shown, the bottom surface of each of my renewable rims is complementary in form to the top surface or surfaces of the rim or top edge of the drain body which it removably engages, and the top surface of each renewable rim lies ush with the surface of the floor to be drained. All portions of the renewable rim are free from overlapping engagement with the floor. A specific and valuable contribution to the art is realized in this invention.

The application for these Letters Patent comprised a continuation in part of my copendng application Serial No. 356,748, led May 22, 1953, now abandoned.

I claim:

1. In a surface drain of the character described, in

combination, an open ended hollow body formed of relatively linexpensive rough-huish material for installation in a floor structure, the top of said body terminating in an annular integral rim, said rim having on its upper face an inner annular downwardly and inwardly extending seat, said seat having at its outer periphery a feather edge to be disposed in the plane of the surface of the oor structure, said body rim having an outer peripheral surface which extends downwardly into and is assembled with the oor structure, an annular finish rim of highiinish rigid material mounted on said body rim seat independently of said oor surface structure, said finish rim having an upper peripheral surface coinciding with the peripheral face of said body rim seat and a bottom surface conforming to and covering said body rim seat, a grate closing said body opening at the level of the floor surface and supported within said finish ring and means for removably securing said finish rim upon the integral rim of the body.

2. The surface drain as defined in claim 1 wherein the grate is disposed Wholly within the plane of the upper face of said finish rim and supported thereon.

3. The surface drain as dened in claim l wherein grate seating means are provided within said drain body below said nish rim and a grate is disposed wholly within the plane of the upper face of said finish rim and supported on said grate seating means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 592,814 McCann Nov. 2, 1897 1,601,498 Hirshstein sept. 28, 1926 1,830,065 Lun Nov. 3, 1931 1,836,491 Niedecken Dee. 15, 1931 2,323,224 Kuhnle June 29, 1943 2,358,750 Walker et al. Sept. 19, 1944 2,695,677 Sisk Nov. 30, 1954 

